2008 年 12 巻 2 号 p. 53-56
Odontogenic myxoma, originating from the odontogenic ectomesenchyme, is an intraosseous benign neoplasm characterized by the presence of stellate and spindleshaped cells proliferating in an abundant myxoid or mucoid extracellular matrix. We experienced a giant case of this type of neoplasm. The patient was a 40-year-old Cambodian female with a presenting complaint of painless swelling of her gums since which had been present for 15 yaers. We examined the histopathological features and compared the mesenchymal tumoral tissue characteristics of this case with those of an ameloblastic fibroma with respect to Notch1 signaling. By immunohistochemical examination of Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD), we found that unlike the ameloblastic fibroma, NICD positive products were not observed in the current case of giant odontogenic myxoma. This negative staining result suggests that the ectomesenchymal tumoral proliferating cells of this neoplasm differ in their development stage from those of an ameloblastic fibroma.
